And that investigation, or at least the short version of it, should have been handed to the Prime Minister two hours ago. From that, the Prime Minister says he will make a decision on whether to approve an independent investigation.
But in his remarks to the press in San Pedro this morning his Minister of Home Affairs is already there. He said he supports that and releasing the security videos:
Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs
"Like I said, the commissioner arrives in country at one, and I'm hoping to get that report to the Prime Minister by 4pm."
Reporter:
"How can you expect that if he was out of the country that he has been investigating?"
Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs
"He's not the investigative officer. He's going to get the file from the investigative officer and deliver it to the Prime Minister."
Reporter:
"Do you vouch for him or trust that he can lead, well not need the investigation, but oversee it in a manner that is worthy of public trust?"
Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs
"Like I said, the Commissioner of Police is not the lead investigator in this. There is a hierarchy and they will report to him the findings and that will be delivered to the Prime Minister."
Reporter:
"The recording at that bilateral meeting would have been just for record keeping purposes."
Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs
"I don't know if they published it in their media. No, we don't have access to it, but they have the recording."
Reporter:
"Have you investigated if Guatemala ever requested the return of Buena back in 2019?"
Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs
"I would not know that. I would have to check the Ministry of Foreign Affairs."
Reporter:
"And lastly, for me on this. Did you expect when you heard that this had occurred, that this would blow up the way it has and all the criticism that's coming on the administration for this?"
Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs
"Absolutely, I expected that. But at the same time, we were focused on the investigation and getting a resolution from that angle. And so while the investigation is going on during the media, you know, how things work. Videos are leaked, information is leaked. It won't, in my opinion, ruin the integrity of the investigation to have these footages leaked. So by all means, release the footage, release the high resolution recording as well."
Reporter:
"That's your position as well?"
Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs
"Yes."
Reporter:
"So then why hasn't happened as yet?"
Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs
"Because there is the integrity process. At this point, there's already a release of the footage. And so you could assume that if there anything is going to be done to that footage enhancement or tampering with it, it's already out there, so might as well release the original."
Reporter:
"So as the Minister of Home Affairs will let you release the footage?"
Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs
"I don't have the footage, but yes, I will ask them to release the footage."
Reporter:
"When you get the footage, you will release it?"
Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs
"I won't get the footage. You will get it before me."
Reporter:
"Well, if you have it will you give it?"
Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs
"I don't. I don't have it. But I don't have. But if I get it, I definitely give it to you."
